Robin Miller's Mailbag for October 2, presented by Honda Racing / HPD

Your questions for Robin should be sent to millersmailbag@racer.com. We cannot guarantee we’ll publish all your questions and answers, but Robin will reply to you. And if you have a question about the technology side of racing, Robin will pass these on to Marshall Pruett and he will also answer here. 

Q: While I am all for any exposure the sport can get vis-a-vis Josef Newgarden’s demonstration at the Roval race this past weekend, considering all this talk about a NASCAR/IndyCar doubleheader was about attempting to revive both series’ flagging numbers at oval races, I don’t think it follows that running at the convoluted Charlotte road course would be the obvious choice. Please tell me that this isn’t the first (or only) track we’re looking at.

Also, in regards to your previous comments about splitting up 500-milers with current field sizes, here’s a thought: has anybody thought of trying, on an oval, a day-night double-header, as with baseball? The differing track and air conditions and the expanded broadcast window opportunities seem at least worth consideration, don’t you think?

Garrett from Reno, NV

RM: Jay Frye has said he’d like an oval so IndyCar could run Saturday night and NASCAR on Sunday, and I imagine Charlotte’s Roval is a possibility but I think Richmond, Chicago and maybe Gateway (if they get a Cup date) would be better choices. Never heard the day/night proposal but I like it – ovals need to do something different, and you could have a race, followed by a concert, and then the nightcap.

Q: I am not a fan of NASCAR on the Roval and I think a 1.5-mile track is too small for a road course, but after seeing Newgarden take an IndyCar on it I was impressed. I think it could really work for IndyCar. Bring on the doubleheader.

Joe Mullins

RM: The track length is 2.25 miles but those chicanes would need modifying because they would destroy an IndyCar. It was cool to see JoNew take a few laps, but the best part is that both series seem to be embracing this doubleheader concept.

Q: Josef Newgarden driving at Charlotte may have been one of the smartest ideas anyone has had to promote IndyCar. I’m finding it hard to believe it was a last minute idea from Shell-Pennzoil. Do you know the real story behind it? Thanks again for all you do for us.

Bary Berger

RM: All I know is that a release was sent out late last week that Newgarden would be running a few laps on the Roval in his Verizon Chevy, and it sounds like more of a Team Penske idea than Shell/Pennzoil, but it got it’s desired exposure.

Newgarden put an IndyCar in front of some new eyeballs at Charlotte. Image by Kinrade/LAT

Q: I love the idea of IndyCar at Charlotte, kind of a stadium road course where the whole course can be seen from your seat. But Please tell me that IndyCar is not getting in bed with BOXCAR and going to be involved with something called a ”Roval”? Daytona has had a road course forever (1961) and no one has called it a  “Roval” ever. The powers that be at BOXCAR (WWE) have screwed the pooch for a long time, and I would hate for them to get anywhere near the real racing that is IndyCar.

IndyCar fan, Ft. Myers, FL

RM: If a doubleheader ever comes to fruition, NBC will likely be the driving force and have a big say in where it’s held since it will televise both races but I think it’s way to do a hand ringing on where it might be held. It’s almost secondary to just pulling it off although I think a Roval might make it more logical for a NASCAR driver to jump into an IndyCar that weekend.

Q: Newgarden did six laps? NASCAR fans actually showed up to watch six laps? Autoweek says NASCAR fans were excited to watch an IndyCar exhibition. I find that hard to believe. If they brought them out there for six laps, they must’ve went away very disappointed.

Tim B.

RM: The interviews I watched seemed mildly entertained from watching it, so I’m not sure the number of laps had anything to do with first impressions.

Q: In your reply to Max from Bethlehem last week, you hinted at another possible scenario for Hinch. My first reaction after reading the first few articles about Arrow SP/McLaren was that Hinch would end up at Andretti (a Honda team) with Marco retiring to Indy-only status. Or that Conor is going to take it in the chin again. Am I warm? Yes, I know and appreciate that you put the moratorium on Marco talk so I'm just asking you personally. Also, I appreciate that you were your usual honest self and loved the eating crow article. Many in your profession would either pretend they never said it or pass the blame for the reasoning for their opinion elsewhere. You call 'em as you see 'em, and we readers love that! Now that the season is over, us diehards will only have "The Bag" to sate our appetite until next season - thanks!

Russ from Plainfield, NJ

RM: I’m not being cheeky, but there are a couple of things I was told in the past few days that really convinced me Hinch will not be at SPAM in 2020 and he will be in a Honda, but I can’t write them yet. The obvious question is where does he go, and right now the only place anyone can see is if RLL runs a third car. But Andretti is overflowing, and I can imagine six cars at Indianapolis, but not full-time. Thanks for your comments, and being a loyal reader. Crow isn’t bad if properly prepared.

Q: I find some contradiction in A.J.'s assertion that Larry Foyt is running the team. If Larry is truly in charge then why does A.J. say he and Larry will sit down and figure out the driver lineup? It seems the equity in the Foyt name is losing its luster. It's looking more and more like a last alternative or a last stop for a driver looking for a drive.

John Fulton, Akron, Ohio

RM: I think we all know that Larry is running the team after everything is run past A.J. It’s his team, and he still makes the major decisions and always will, but it is sad to hear drivers say they’d rather not have a ride than drive for Foyt. He and Mario remain the cornerstone of IndyCar, and I wish things could turn around but it’s going to take one big change and I doubt if it happens.

Q: My question this week is about the future of Colton Herta. It’s interesting that both wins came at new tracks where veteran teams and drivers didn’t have the benefit of data from past years, etc. Do you think there is any value in that looking forward? I guess what I’m saying is the kid smoked everyone on the tracks where the playing field was even. Now that Andretti has locked him up, what’s the limit for this kid’s future? Championship contender next year, or still a ways off?

Mike R, Bloomington, IN

RM: Good observation Mike, I think it points to his talent and engineer Nathan O’Rourke’s savvy, and we also need to give that Harding crew a nod because their pit stops were excellent – especially at Laguna Seca. But I think Colton will be a contender for the title and multiple wins every year – he’s that good.

Q: Colton Herta is the real ROY. Why does the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Series use different rules for ROY?

Richard F Brummer

RM: The Indy 500 Rookie of the Year is a vote from a panel of media and racing officials who don’t always get it right (Ed Jones got hosed in 2017 and should have at least been co-rookie-of-the-year with Fernando), while IndyCar has always been a point structure. But I don’t think Colton would trade his two wins for the ROY trophy.

Q: I want to compliment everyone involved with the IndyCar race at Laguna Seca. The access to the paddock and grandstands were included in the ticket price, plus general parking too. Not bad considering other tracks charge extra for all three mentioned. The beer and soft drinks were really priced fairly compared to baseball and football stadiums that I attend. I didn't bother lugging around a cooler all day.

The Corkscrew is not to be missed. I walked the track on Friday and Saturday during practice and qualifying. I watched Indy Lights and Porsche up there. Great pub up there too! Sunday, I watched the race at the Turn 4 exit. It was a great view! I could see them cresting Turn 1 and heading into the Andretti Hairpin. Pit exit merging into the racing line. Kinda lose them in Turn 3 ,and see them again on the straight heading to Turn 4. The Pagenaud and Rossi  side-by-side was right in front of us. There was dirt flying all weekend there! Exciting racing all day. I thought Power might catch Herta, but a great drive by Colton. Pagenaud was really fun to watch. Conor Daly made some early moves. I'll definitely be there next year. What kind of feedback did you get?

Ian McLaughlin, Highland Park, CA

RM: I think most of you paying customers were satisfied you got to see the most entertaining IndyCar race ever staged at Laguna Seca, and I’m glad you explained the ticket breakdown. I thought $100 was insane but the fact it included the pits, paddock and parking is good to know, and explains why I didn’t hear too many complaints. And it also explains why the grid and paddock was so crowded on race day.

Turns out that the idea of IndyCars returning to Monterey was a pretty popular one. Image by King/IndyCar

Q: Come on, Miller who does the setup belong to? Everyone signs NDAs. Sure they could break an NDA, but in a small paddock like that I have a feeling word would get around pretty quickly.

Give me 50-1 odds on RInus VeeKay being at team Penske in 2021, and unless he signs a multi-year deal with ECR I’ll take those odds. Colton will still be under contract in 2021 to Andretti, making 2022 a year I feel he might replace Will Power depending on the next two seasons for Will. Have you asked any of the SPM guys about the SPAM acronym that seems to be catching on? I think this one’s going to stick.

A recent topic on the MP Podcast has been appropriate punishments for substandard driving (see Portland and Pocono). I’ve got an idea that would also add potential to the finale that could arguably remove double-points – require drivers to complete 75% of the race distance to score points and be classified. I realize this potentially also punishes the victims, but there are other series out there that use this scoring format. Even a big championship lead can change quickly with a DNF.

Ryan Terpstra

RM: Like I said, I imagine the setup sheets are proprietary property of the team but we all know engineers and drivers move around and they take (and keep) notes, so other than Ed Carpenter’s magic potion for Indianapolis, I’m not sure there are any secrets. I’ll give you even money that The Captain has already pitched Colton for 2021 to take Pagenaud’s place when he heads for McLaren. We don’t need any more rules or gimmicks, just get rid of double points except for Indianapolis.

Q: I thought 2019 was competitive and safe with lots of new talent emerging to make (almost) every race close, exciting and unpredictable. I want to thank you again for your personal contribution, both to RACER and the excellent NBC broadcast team. I am a discerning reader, watcher and fan and find your comments, articles and interviews to be consistently informative, enjoyable and worthwhile. You are an important voice for the sport and I appreciate you.

Mark Shunk, Bend, OR

RM: Thanks Mark, even though Team Penske won over half of the races (nine of 17) and finished 1-2 in the championship 2019 certainly had some pleasant surprises (Herta, Ferrucci), good stories (Rosenqvist, Ericsson, Harvey) and excellent racing (COTA, Indy 500, Mid-Ohio, Texas, Gateway and Laguna).

Q: Why is the Indy 500 the only oval race shown on the network? The other races are aired on cable. Why aren’t more races seen on network TV when they aired on network TV in the past? Please write back. I’m sincerely looking forward to your response.

Joe Shatee

RM: Other than Pocono, Indy was the only oval to run in the daytime while Texas, Iowa and Gateway are all night races and NBC isn’t going to air races on network during prime time on Saturday night. But there were eight races on NBC during the season – three more than ABC the previous years. Plus NBC promoted the hell out of IndyCar all year so I think IndyCar should be pretty pleased with their full-time TV partner.

Q: Given that IndyCar and, within two years NASCAR, are basically spec series, one chassis, all body part are provided by each series and can't be tampered with. Gear ratios are mandated, etc. With so much of the car being prefabbed by each series, why own a car? Why doesn't IndyCar and NASCAR just hand out complete cars? No need for owners or crews, it would be like a ride and drive series. NASCAR is boring because, surprise, each and every car is exactly the same, down to the horsepower and they wonder why there's no passing. Simple innovation no longer has a place in racing. Bring on all the spec racing.

Kip H.

RM: While spec racing killed most of the interest in the Indianapolis 500 in terms of practice and qualifying because there was nothing new and innovative, it has made for some great racing the past few years. And teams can still make a difference with the right driver/engineer combination and good pit stops and strategy. So no need for slot cars just yet.

Q: Wow! What an exciting race through and through. It was my first race at Laguna Seca, and I was nothing but impressed. I will for sure be making the trip from St. Louis, MO for years to come. Could you pass a quick suggestion to track president Tim McGrane? After hiking around the track twice through the weekend, we determined the best viewing location for the race was along the fence line or on the hill at Turn 1. You have the best passing zone on the track right under you, and you can see virtually the whole track except for the hill that leads to the Corkscrew and the Corkscrew itself.

We see empty grandstands along the front stretch and off Turn 4, less than desirable viewing locations for most. Why not move one of those to Turn 1 and embed it into the hill? I 100% guaranteed they would be filled in that location, look better on TV and provide a better fan experience. Also, a big screen added to Turn 1 and the Corkscrew would be a plus.

Not a bad seat in the house. Image by IndyCar

Now for NBCSN. First of all, you guys rock, I enjoy everyone over the mic. NBC Gold coverage has been top-notch. Now for the negatives. After watching the Laguna coverage post-event, there were so many passes missed. Most noted was Chilton's three-wide outside pass at Turn 5, and the Hinch/Ericsson battle earlier in the race. Not to mention some other moves by Felix, Chilton and RHR. I'd love to see a "pass-cam" quick recap like F1 does highlighting different passes through the field next year. Thanks Robin for all that you do! Keep on keeping on!

Sean Kennedy

RM: Thanks for your post-Laguna scouting report, and I’m glad you enjoyed the race as I did. I sent your suggestions to Laguna communication director Brandy Falconer and she promised to share it with Tim, because they always recap events and may have some new plans for the grandstands on the front straight. I guess the best I can give you on missed passes is that there were so many of them that we couldn’t get them all, but I like your pass cam suggestion so I’ll pass it along.

Q: I wasn’t going to write until I read Ryan in West Michigan’s letter. Honestly, I had a hard time staying awake throughout the race. I even wondered if I should have signed up for the Gold Pass if the season finale was going to be so anti-climactic. There were so many good races this year, but here was another F1 race where the result was settled during qualifying. Almost any other race would have been a better season-ender. At least that’s how it looked on TV. I agree with Ryan: where was all this passing that’s been talked about? Not on the tube.

Jim Patton, Lindale, TX

RM: I said last week that I spent the whole race in the pits and saw quite a bit of passing on the TV monitors so while we didn’t get them all (because there were so many), it seems like we got quite a few. I’m not sure how you could expect a better IndyCar race on a narrow circuit built 57 years ago for sports cars. You had a teenager holding off three of the best drivers in the series for two hours and not making a mistake and enough drama about the championship to make things interesting. True, the polesitter did win for the 15th time in 23 IndyCar races but a rookie on a little team beating Ganassi and Penske was about as good as it gets.

Q: Hey, save a plate of crow for Santino after he emphatically said no to any chances of passing at Laguna Seca. Great seeing you out there; such great weekend and atmosphere. But how about all those passes? Saw so much action at Hairpin all the way as they climbed the hill. Can you believe three-wide at the Corkscrew? Already planning our camping situation up above Turns 10 and 11. Camping neighbors were partying until 3am Sunday morning. Monterey throws one helluva party.

PJ Macias

RM: Santino, Dixie and most of the field said there wouldn’t be any passing and, thankfully, they were all wrong (along with this observer) and we were treated to the best IndyCar race ever held at Laguna. I give Dallara, Firestone and the drivers big props for the result.

Q: I went to every CART race at Laguna from 1991 to 2001 with a group of buddies who were hardcore fans for years. In the years since they lost their enthusiasm for the series, but I stuck it out. I talked them into joining me for this year’s race at Laguna Seca knowing that it could be a real snooze-fest. It wasn’t, not even remotely. In all of the years we went to those races we rarely saw a pass on track for position. 

Needless to say, this year was a huge change, and on the way back to the hotel they were already talking about next year and planning out the logistics. Sat in Turn 6 and saw some fantastic passes and really got to see the drivers wrestle those cars through a tough, high-speed corner. Colton was so impressive, that kid will be in the championship hunt next year. I can’t wait for the next season and I am happy my buddies are all-in on IndyCar for next season.

Tom Schryer, Chandler, AZ

RM: It was good to meet you Tom, and thanks for being such a great ambassador for IndyCar and getting your pals back to the track. I expected nothing and was treated to a helluva race. But to your point, the best part was watching the drivers slip and slide and throw their cars around. See ya next year.

Q: Well, I attended the season finale at Laguna Seca and expected to see the Indy Train for 90 laps like the race was when I attended back in the CART days, but not so… Although the front of the pack didn't have many lead changes, the guys like Hunter-Reay and Rosenqvist carved their way from the very back to within the top 10 for both, and was exciting to watch. The crowd was also very good, we arrived a little before 8:00 a.m. and there was already a nice little crowd, even though not much was open yet, overall seem to be a very good turnout for the return – although I agree the season-ending race needs to be an oval.

Awesome rookie crop this year, know that Herta and Rosenqvist are already signed for next year, but any rumors on the other two rookies (Ferrucci and Ericsson) and where they might end up? Any other new drivers that you believe will get a ride next year in IndyCar from the Indy Lights, and where they might end up? Lastly, do you think Conor Daly might finally get a full time gig next year?

Rod, Fresno, CA

RM: When I saw the cars lined up on Highway 68 at 8 a.m. it made me think we might get surprised and we did – twice – because it was a promising crowd that got to watch a good race. I think Santino stays with Dale Coyne, not sure about Marcus and hopefully Daly to either ECR, Carlin or RLL if nothing can be worked out for Hinch. I think Lights champ Askew will get a shot with Ganassi, and runner-up Rinus VeeKay goes to ECR or possibly Carlin.

So having raced for Andretti, Carlin, Arrow SPM and then Andretti again this year, Daly's best chances of a ride next year lie with ECR, Carlin or Rahal – depending on what happens with Hinch, Ferrucci, Askew, Ericsson and VeeKay. It's kinda cute that we all thought Silly Season was over when Rossi re-signed. Image by LePage/LAT

Q: Robin, I was going to simply write to you after the race with the quote "that was pretty damn good race!" Then I saw your article. Congrats on being wrong:)

TJ Spitzmiller, Sarasota, FL

RM: It was a fun article to write, and crow tastes best when served the day after.

Q: Could you send a copy of the Laguna Seca broadcast to everyone in F1, and explain to them this is what a race looks like, as opposed to cruising around 10 seconds off the pace and incessantly whining and sniveling about who got preferential pit timing? F1 needs to be reminded that automobile racing is about driving fast, not managing the decline. Bit of a shame the 11th-place starter on med/hard tires did not pull off a win.

Ken K.

RM: I could, but I’m not sure F1 places as much value on actually racing as IndyCar does, and seems content to be an exercise in spending money, tire compounds and team orders.

Q: As I wrote in another forum before the race, I thought a good turnout was possible at Laguna Seca, but what I thought was far more likely was that IndyCar would race really well there. Mid-Ohio used to be a snooze-fest. Barber was expected to be. The current IndyCar package races great on both, so I had confidence (realizing that I could have been the one to be wrong) that they would put on a good show at Laguna too.

I respect your racing knowledge and love the work you do in general, but honestly it was really annoying me how you were sticking a fork in the Laguna race long before a lap was ever turned. Your opinion matters in the racing world. You are usually a great cheerleader for the series, but I felt you were hurting it in this instance. One of the few times I disagree with you has been your campaign to move the final race to an oval. I'll admit bias as I love road racing and just like ovals, but Laguna had a far more big-time feel than any oval other than Indy and arguably Gateway. IndyCar sponsorship is primarily about B2B relationships, not B2C so much, so with that in mind Laguna is a perfect place to serve as host. On TV the event seemed big time enough. Although that stage for the championship ceremony was far from big time. IndyCar really needs to work on that to crown their champion live on network TV.

Joe in Philadelphia

RM: I’ve always had two distinct platforms, be it The Indianapolis Star, ESPN, SPEED or RACER.com, and that’s been reporting and giving an opinion. Cheerleading would be a stretch since I spent several years as Public Enemy No.1 in CART as well as the IRL, but I’ve been more positive lately because the racing has been so good and the politics is mostly gone. But I gave my forecast based on my experience with Indy cars at Laguna Seca and I was happy the race turned out so good and I was wrong. The atmosphere wasn’t as good as Long Beach, but it rivaled Gateway and was another pleasant surprise. I’d still like to see the finale on an oval with no double-points, but last month’s Laguna show may have cemented it as the last race for as long as the contract runs.

Q: I haven’t been to an IndyCar race in quite a while, mostly because IndyCar at Sonoma using the AMA layout never excited me. But with IndyCar returning to Laguna Seca, I had to take the family! It was a first for my wife and two kids. As a kid myself, I went to CART at Laguna Seca in 1995 and saw Gil de Ferran win his first race. I was hooked as a kid and at subsequent races I went to (Mid-Ohio ’97, Portland ’99, IRL at Fontana ’03), I always sought out Gil and he always had time for me as a huge fan.

Well, this weekend, because of Rossi being from NorCal like myself, we were rooting for me. And because of this, my daughter took it upon herself to shout “Rossi!” unprompted multiple times per lap to cheer him on. When she wanted to talk to him, though, it reminded me of being a kid wanting Michael Andretti’s autograph. It was like a one in a million chance, and if he happened to come your way, never had time for you. Took some of the luster away of a great family weekend when Rossi was hiding in his trailer. However, Zach Veach has made himself a new fan with how pleasant and nice he was! The time he gave us reminded me of how Gil was with me as a kid.

Also, having seen CART, MotoGP, ALMS, Grand Am, Historics, and IGTC at Laguna Seca, I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the infield fan activities. The one IndyCar official merchandise tent was in a bad location and pretty paltry. I was hoping for some additional car manufacturer tents as well. I always liked the MotoGP track crossings during the day, to be able to walk on the track instead of the bridge (great if you have a stroller getting from the paddock to inside Turn 3/4), maybe rental karts, etc. But I did think it was pretty well attended. Hopefully ticket prices can be cheaper next year. I know the high prices were a turnoff for a few friends I tried to persuade to come.

Daniel, Woodland, CA

RM: Glad you got the family to an IndyCar race and sorry you couldn’t connect with Rossi, but there’s no finer driver for fans to meet than Veach. He’s a delightful young man who appreciates his opportunity and enjoys sharing time with young and old alike. I think we all remember our first encounter with a driver and whether he was approachable, and mine was Jim Hurtubise. It goes without saying I was an instant Herk fan. I think Laguna Seca has some plans for 2020 that may benefit the fans, but $100 for a ticket that includes pit and paddock is not a bad deal in this day and age.

A young fan finds Alexander Rossi cunningly hidden at the autograph session at Mid-Ohio. Image by IndyCar

Q: I disagree with the person who said, "one complaint is the coverage had way too much noise from the microphones, which drowned out the announcers," in your Mailbag on September 25. I noticed it too, but for me it was more exciting with the louder race car sounds. I am always griping to myself that I can't hear the cars when I listen to the broadcast. The announcers are fine, but let the race cars speak for themselves once in a while! For viewers like myself who wish they were at the track, it's a richer experience. Kudos to the producer or sound person who turned up the track sounds during the Laguna Seca telecast.

Adam Chandler, Ithaca, NY

RM: Well thanks Adam, you are the first fan to embrace the noise in the Mailbag.

Q: I’d like to thank Craig from Palm Bay FL for bringing up the problem with noise (engines) during the broadcast. While I think it was particularly bad at Laguna Seca, I find it difficult to hear the guys in the booth and sometimes your pit reporters. Can’t there be some type of damper around the booth that will help quiet the noise, but still let us hear the cars running on track? I don’t think anyone wants to give that up, but a little quieter would be nice!

Debbie Biere, St. Louis, MO

RM: Thanks Debbie, I’ve sent the concerns to NBC’s tech folks but please read a possible solution two questions below yours.

Q: Hey Robin, I saw a comment in the Mailbag about the noise from the cars covering up the announcers during the race at Laguna Seca last weekend. To me, it brings a bit of the visceral side of being at the track to the viewer at home. Kind of gives impact with the sounds and volume of the race cars, which are the stars of the show, not the fantastic crew in the booth. They’re great, but I like to hear the cars.

Brandon, McKinney, TX

RM: Takuma Sato said he got hooked on racing the first time he heard an F1 engine at full song, and the Novi blasting down the front straight at Indy got me in 1957, so obviously the noise factor has its place on a telecast. Please see an explanation in the next question.

Q: A Mailbag complaint about the Laguna audio caught my old ‘sound guy’ eye. I, too, struggled a little with announcer vs car sounds during the Laguna race. The producer and the audio mixer make decisions regarding the mix of the two elements. It is a judgment call. I have watched races where the background noise was far under the announcers, taking away from the experience (in my opinion). I personally think the crew continuously does a bang-up job. The booth talent figure into that as well.

Brian Bristo, London, Ontario

RM: Thanks, Brian. Here’s the best explanation of how the sound is mixed from our NBC tech crew:

“The challenge is to be able to bring the listeners as close to the action on the track as possible. One of the many creative reasons we went from Stereo to 5.1 surround sound was that we could place the in-car microphones for IndyCar and F1 in a 30/70 ratio/balance in the home speakers so that the listener could hear the engine mostly behind them when we cut to the in-car shots, thus helping to really put them inside the driver's seat.

“Also, placing particular microphones with a longer 'reach' as the cars approach the corners where they are quieter, with the intention to 'pull' as much of the sound of the car slowing into the corner and pulling as much of the deceleration fuel 'popping' in the exhaust. NBC's sound design for motorsports is based around an 'aggressive' mix of the natural sounds of the event. We are going to place a lot of microphones very close to (and on) the cars rather than plant a few microphones far away.

“You may know that it takes more than one audio mixer (A1) or one audio mixing console to bring all these sounds into one combined mix. There are separate consoles and A1s for all the driver radios, for the radio microphones, for the mix of just the track microphones and for the mixing of all the taped pieces and announcers into the combined feed. These mixers are the best in the business and at the top of their game. It goes without saying that we are highly critical of our own audio mixes and we continuously check and recheck to ensure that our mixes, both 5.1 and stereo are being received at home and online without issue.

“The main technical issue with audio we have in all our productions comes from the setup of home entertainment systems. Sometimes 5.1 speaker's arrangements are incorrectly balanced and that imbalance causes the announcer audio to be perceived as either too soft or too loud. For stereo listeners at home the biggest issue is their Smart TVs and the settings that are built into them by the manufacturers.

“I have a Samsung SMART TV and it has a setting called 'Virtual surround'. If this is turned on then the Samsung algorithm tries to make surround sound from a two-channel speaker… badly. It attempts to simulate natural 'comb filtering' to create the impression of sounds located in 3D space. It is the main offender when announcers are unclear.”

Q: I want to second writer Craig Bailey’s comment on sound. It appeared the sound engineer wasn’t listening to the actual broadcast because we had difficulty understanding the broadcasters being overwhelmed by track noise. Also, I want to thank you for your personal response to my pre-race questions on Pocono’s viability. Your post-race reasons helped me better understand the decision.

Watson Bullock, Silver Spring, MD

RM: Please see the explanation above about mixing the sound, but I can assure you that NBC is always engaged in trying to make sure there is a good mix of the booth and the cars. I don’t think there is a good guy/bad guy scenario at Pocono, it was just time to move on because neither side really wanted to continue.

Q: First time e-mailer from the UK. After a change in broadcaster over here this year, I've had the pleasure of watching my first season of IndyCar for many years – I'm one of that generation introduced to the series in the Mansell years and loved it until it was put onto a channel I don't subscribe to. Thankfully it's now on our F1 channel, despite the obvious inaccuracy on the series name! How seriously do those in charge take the international broadcast rights? We've been very lucky to have taken the coverage that included your involvement, and usually keep the pictures during your commercial breaks (with car noise instead of commentary during those times!).

I know we're unlikely to get back to the point where the international audience are even treated to local races (the UK Rockingham oval has now even ceased to be a racing circuit now -- sadly that never recovered when the Indy races weren't a success). Having read the article on the U.S. audience gains, I'd love to know if those who look after the rights have considered the change here a similar success, or if it's a case of sell what they can and leave it to the broadcaster. Hope you have an enjoyable off-season!

Daniel Francis

RM: A response from Hulman & Co. CEO Mark Miles:

“First, thanks for watching us on Sky Sports F1. We are proud to have Sky Sports as a partner, and we believe that their willingness to place INDYCAR on the popular F1 channel is evidence of our increasing popularity in the UK. Thank you for supporting us and being part of the reason we were able to make that deal happen and deliver our UK fans INDYCAR racing on the Sky Sports F1 platforms this past season and for the next couple of years.

“The Sky Sport F1 deal and the many others we were able to arrange outside the U.S. for 2019 and beyond, including with Telefonica/Movistar in Spain, Canal+ in France, NENT Group/Viasat in the Nordics, Gaora and NHK in Japan, and DAZN in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, to name a few, contributed to some of the best global coverage we’ve had in a while, so, yes, we consider 2019 a success. We accomplished this on our own by bringing our international media distribution in-house in 2019 for the first time in many years through the creation of INDYCAR Media. Before we established INDYCAR Media, a third party owned our media rights outside the U.S. and distributed them for us. We thought it was time we handled the distribution ourselves so that we can deal directly with our international media partners, learn exactly how fans around the world wish to consume INDYCAR, better understand the value of our product, and work with our media partners to really grow our sport, among other reasons.

“Doing this work directly was a major undertaking for us, as we were not set up to be a media distribution company. But, for the reasons I just listed, this was important enough for us to take on the challenge. Hopefully, that sheds some light for you regarding just how seriously we take our international broadcast rights. Of course, as with any new endeavor, in our first year of licensing our own content, there were some kinks which we will address this offseason in order to continue to improve our product everywhere.  So, please bear with us and do not hesitate to provide any feedback you have based on what you’re seeing in the UK, as I assure you it will be noted and considered as we work to get better going forward. Thanks again for your support of INDYCAR.”

Q: Is there any potential for standalone races for the Road to Indy cars? Do you think a weekend with multiple sanctioning bodies could work? For example, ARCA, USAC sprints or midgets and all the Road to Indy classes? I think it would be a hell of a show – non-stop action. Would anyone show up? Would this cost less to sanction and possibly make sense for Milwaukee or Joliet? Doesn’t hurt to dream. By the way, cannot tell you how much I enjoyed my NBC Sports Gold Pass. The commentating and information provided was tremendous!

Wally, Eden Prairie, MN

RM: Indy Lights had a standalone race at Savannah, Georgia but can’t remember how it drew, and there was also a standalone Road to Indy round at Laguna Seca to end their 2016 season. Maybe you could combine USAC and the Road to Indy, but as good as the racing can be in Lights, having less than 10 cars is hard to sell. Might be something for IRP to consider, but a promoter needs a hook or a couple big names, so if you got Kyle Larson and Chris Bell to drive a midget, sprinter and Lights car you might be able to sell it. Glad you enjoyed NBC Gold.

Indy Lights headlined a standalone season finale at Laguna Seca in 2016. Image by Road to Indy

Q: This is wishful thinking on my part. We have an IndyCar schedule that now includes most of the best road race circuits but adding VIR, Road Atlanta and getting The Glen back would really do it. I believe that teaming up with the vintage race series that includes former IndyCar, IMSA and NASCAR drivers that the SVRA runs would be a great pairing. Real V8s and recognizable cars make for a great spectating, and no fighting about who the premier show is for the weekend. Each track has its own history and on-track variety may help create the opportunity to build more of a weekend festival vibe, drawing a broader audience of car nuts that may never go to an IndyCar race. If you have ever attended the Goodwood Revival you’ll know what I mean. My sincere thanks for your reporting, Mailbag and your story a few years ago remembering Jerry Karl, always a Grove favorite who made it to the big show at Indy.

CD, Beerhill, PA

RM: VIR has evidently expressed interest in IndyCar but would need a lot of track improvements and probably couldn’t afford them. Road Atlanta has always been classified as too fast for IndyCars, but IMSA runs like a bat out of hell there so not sure it’s anything more than a couple of corners that need more runoff. The Glen would be willing if a date and a partner could be found (and probably a title sponsor), but nothing on the horizon. Jerry Karl embodied what racing was all about.

Q: Why is it that a promoter will pay a sanctioning fee, spend money on track and site prep, bring in support series and then fail to do any promotion in the host city? It can't be just some out-of-touch guy, as it seems to be universal (barring Gateway). Do you know? Can you ask some of them?

Chad R. Larson, Phoenix

RM: The Pocono people said they promoted the IndyCar race just the same as they did NASCAR, which I find hard to believe since nobody in the area knew there was a race that weekend. I know Portland’s promoters realized they need to spend some money next year and getting a title sponsor would help. Long Beach has Acura, Gateway has John Bommarito, Mid-Ohio has Honda and St. Pete has Firestone and those seem to be the best promoted races, so it’s a simple formula.

Q: I have a technical question nobody seems to be able to answer.  Maybe you can. When the IndyCars run at Indianapolis, they run a line that takes them out close to the wall as they exit Turn 4, but they seem to continue the arc, swooping down almost to the inside of the front straightaway. Then near the end of the front straightaway they move back out near the wall to get a good entry into Turn 1. The NASCAR stock cars don’t do that; they run close to the wall all the way down the front straight  (although maybe not as close as they do on some tracks). Why do the IndyCars do that, and why don’t the stock cars?

Walt Boyd, Apple Valley, CA

RM: Let us ask 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan: “For no reason. Somebody started doing it and everybody else copied. The theory was that you are letting the car go so you free some speed but that is false. Monkey see, monkey do.”

Q: Sad to see another amazing season come to an end so soon, but it certainly is not worth competing against NFL each Sunday. Was filled with tons of amazing and competitive races, and already can't wait to watch every race and attend as many as possible next year.

Several different questions to ask, some going back to a few months ago and others in regards to Silly Season. Each race on TV, they seem to provide the car feed to only about eight cars or so, however, it appears that every car every race has a camera on it for each team's telemetry. A good example of this was at Pocono when NBC didn't have the feed to Sato's camera, but the team showed his view after the race. Is there any reason that every car doesn't have a TV feed each race? Is this something that can happen in the future? I think it would be great to see the action of every car over the course of the race.

Further, during the race, it was said that a piece from a vintage race car went through Dixon's intake to break his engine. I believe that IndyCar has the best safety team in all series, but how did that slip through and not get cleaned up during prerace inspection? For Silly Season, lots of talk and rumors, but who do you think will be the second driver at Arrow McLaren Schmidt/Peterson? And who will be drivers at Foyt next year? My buddy and I are trying to decide what tracks to visit next year that we have not seen yet. Of the current schedule, we have been to both Indys (every year) Mid-Ohio, Iowa, RA, COTA and Detroit. What is your recommendation for where we should go this year?

Recently I moved to Denver, CO. Back in April there were some extremely vague and new rumors that a Denver race had at least been proposed to the city council. Just wondering if you knew if anything at all had materialized from this, or if not a city road course again, could Pikes Peak Int. Speedway someday be back in the mix at all?

Brandon "Millennial Race Fan", Denver, CO

RM: The on-boards are paid for by sponsors: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Production sells six, and NBC grandfathered in Hinch and Rahal’s. How about both drivers at Arrow McLaren SPM? Conor Daly and Pato O’Ward were my guesses last week but, sadly, I’m hearing CD may be out of the picture. Not sure about Super Tex, but likely T.K. is back for his farewell tour. I think you would like Gateway or Richmond. Nothing shaking in Denver.

Robin hasn't banned Denver letters yet, so feel free to write in about it again next week. Image by Abbott/LAT

Q: Good season of IndyCar racing this year, thanks for your coverage. IndyCar needs to have some new excitement to entice new fans, and the racing and cars are already pretty good, so it’s time for a change with some tracks. How about an uphill/downhill oval, an oval with steep banked turns at one end and negative banked turns at the other?

For road courses we need really wide turns with several racing lines available (like Turn 1 at Cleveland, whoops forgot I can’t mention that place), a jump – if IndyCars with all the downforce could do that – a Karussell turn like the Nurburgring. How about a grandstand like the Mexico GP has, with the track running through and under the grandstands? Could they please put deflectors on the front wings to blow some of the marbles off the racing line while they are at speed? Thanks for all your years of covering racing, usually enjoy your articles.

Old Roadster fan, Dean

RM: Well COTA is the newest road course and it’s wide with places to pass and an impressive place. But unless the state helps like it did in Texas, I don’t see a big line of people wanting to build a new oval to meet your specs, or even the standard ones. And while road course racing has made a comeback with the fans, the popular theme seems to be places like the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Ill. – a couple different courses, a go-kart track and skid pad but mostly for car aficionados, doctors, lawyers, rich guys, poor guys, beginners and amateur racers – but not built for paying customers or big races. Thanks for your support.

Q: Hello Robin, long-time reader and even longer-time race fan. Grew up in Milwaukee went to every race they had there for many years, also veteran of 23 Indy 500s and even worked at Skip Barber for a few years. My question is, I have read and seen a few comments about A.J. through the years about him being a dirty driver. Personally, I always loved his driving. I think people get his personality mixed up with his driving – to me, he was always a clean race driver and someone you could trust on the track. Now off the track, that's a different story. One of Foyt’s biggest fans.

Jeff Hermersmann

RM: Not sure where you read it or who said it, but nothing could be further from the truth. Rodger Ward told me once that A.J. was the cleanest driver he ever raced against, and Parnelli said you could run side-by-side with Foyt in any condition or any track. He was universally respected for being clean and fast.

Q: Ben from Noblesville asked a question last week about running the USAC Silver Crown cars at IMS on Legends Day. By your response I think that you may have misunderstood his question. He is suggesting running a 40-lap race on the big paved oval; and personally, that would draw me to Legends Day.

Regarding the BC39 – I attended for the first time this year and I enjoyed it immensely. Next year I will be bringing three more people with me. The 2020 BC39 is currently scheduled for July 1-2; and for several reasons, I have written letters to Doug Boles and USAC encouraging them to run the event on the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day. Your thoughts? Thanks to you, Marshall Pruett, the RACER staff and the NBC Sports/Gold staff for all the great coverage of IndyCar – it is truly appreciated.

Mike Fox, Kalamazoo, MI

RM: Good catch Mike, I re-read it and that’s exactly what he was suggesting but I just think IMS is too big for those cars and engines. But I think IMS wants to keep the BC39 in conjunction with the Brickyard 400 so it can draw Larson, Bell and Stenhouse. Thanks for being a passionate fan.

Q: What's up with that ominous looking black helicopter that NBC uses for the aerial camera shots? I realize we are all there to watch the amazing IndyCars and racing action. But on Sunday on the two straightaways leading up to the corkscrew the maneuvers that CIA-looking aircraft almost stole the show. The pilot was going about 200 miles an hour 50 feet off the ground and then would make a sharp bank to the right and shoot nearly straight up in the air. The scene kind of added a mystique feel to an already highly energized atmosphere. I felt like I was watching a race and a James Bond movie at the same time.

Bob Gray, Woodland Hills, CA

RM: I guess it was there to provide some cool shots, and it certainly did. Or it was commissioned by McLaren to swoop down and kidnap little Herta.

Q: Reading through old racing magazines from 1993 and a lot of the focus was on the ousting of Bill Stokkan and his possible replacements being Michael Kranefuss or Cary Agajanian (which ended being Andrew Craig). What was your take on Stokkan? Were Kranefuss and Agajanian too smart to take the gig? Was the CART Board that much of mess, considering there were bright people on like Penske, Haas, etc

Jonathan Grabowski, Marshfield, MA

RM: Cary was obviously the best candidate, but I think CART thought he was too close to IMS and the Hulman/George family so they went with Randy Andy. I had no opinion on Stokkan, just another in a myriad of open-wheel CEOs with no clue and without much power. Craig did some good things but his hands were usually tied and at least he made out good with CART stock.

Q: Fan of IndyCar since the '80s. This ranks for me as a top-five best season finale. How did it rank for you? And when we are going to have a steady race around here at the northeast? We lost Nazareth, PA; Watkins Glen, NY; comes and goes, no more Pocono, PA? Where else IndyCar could go?

Sergio Nascimento

RM: A pleasant surprise is how it ranked for me, but I think Dario and Montoya at Fontana in 1999 and Dixon and Helio at Chicago in 2008 were two of the most dramatic. IndyCar’s next stop is likely going to be East, but not necessarily Northeast.

At risk of making anyone feel old, this was 20 years ago. Image by Levitt/LAT

Q: Upon reflection there is much to be happy about in 2019. First, of course, is your health. Second, was a competitive year that was entertaining and interesting with storylines that kept intrigue throughout the year. Third, (and I know you will disagree here) double-points in the finale, which kept the last race relevant and fun to watch. But, most of all, NBC Sports Gold Pass which supplied the best content on IndyCar racing I have ever seen. The pass allowed a more thorough understanding of the business and sport of IndyCar as well as lending insight into what it takes to be a great driver. So much of this was never explained through previous telecasts of races because who had the time? They could charge $500 next year and I would buy it. Thank you and great job NBC!

Justin, Park City, UT

RM: Feeling fine, thank you, and it was another good season and we can agree to disagree on double-points but if it makes the fans happy then it’s OK for now. Glad you enjoyed NBC Gold, the whole concept was to bring a TV show into your computer or iPhone, and from the response I think it worked. Thanks for subscribing.

Q: I have a few questions about the next season and beyond: When is IndyCar going back to MIS, Chicagoland, Altoona, Loudon, Milwaukee, Kentucky, Ontario, Trenton, and Phoenix? Is Marco going to retire after this year? When are we going to get more innovation and open up the rulebook for gosh darn sakes? The cars all look the same! Don't you think we should go back to the traditional "Month of May" format and reinstate four days of qualifying? Oh, and I heard Cleveland coming back next year? How about one million bucks to win the Triple Crown? Is Jay Frye talking about introducing turbines in 2022? Pike's Peak? Front engine roadsters? Is tobacco sponsorship still possible? Any truth to the rumor that Nigel and Mario are coming back in 2021 for Newman/Haas?

Johnny McOldschool, Midwest USA

P.S. Thanks for all you do for our favorite sport. Be well.

RM: The best way to end The Mailbag is with some laughter and this was a good one. But I do think Altoona has a shot in 2021.